ACTIVE CITIZENS FOR EDUCATION

White Paper Index 09.12.2004

DOCUMENTS WITH DESCRIPTIONS, COMPARISONS AND ANALYSES OF EDUCATIONAL ISSUES FACING THE MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY

1. Community Services Fund (Fund 80)
A fund supported by a tax levy on property in the Madison School Districtd separate from the general fund tax levy subject to state imposed revenue controls and limits. Analyzes the uses and the 216% growth of the fund during the past five years.
[64K PDF]

2. Fund 80 Media Presentation
A release to the Madison media and the MMSD Board of Education calling for the District to conduct a special audit of the Community Service Fund (Fund 80). The audit request calls into question whether the Board of Education is fulfilling its feduciary responsibilities, including at least eleven questions related to policies, practices, and accountability. [180K PDF]

3. District Administration Costs & Administration Staffing Levels
Comparisons of MMSD administration costs, staffing levels and per pupil costs are made with peer school districts at Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. The analysis demonstrates MMSD has consistently more administration staff, higher per pupil administration expenditures and lower pupil to administrator ratios than peer districts.[212K PDF]

4. Madison Metropolitan School District Per Pupil Cost
A comparison of Madison school district expenditures in eight categories is shown with peer school districts at Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. The analysis shows that MMSD per pupil costs exceed the average of those of the other districts in every category except Capital Expansion. An additional chart shows "Comparative Performance Results" among Madison and the four peer districts using relevant demographic data, 3rd grade reading scores along with Composite test scores at the 4th, 8th and 10th grade levels from the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam administered through state mandates. [40K PDF]

5. Retention Rates
A comparison of retention rates (the percentage of pupils who were not passed to the next grade level) of MMSD elementary, middle and high school pupils with districts at Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. An example of the review of the statistical data shows that when the Madison School District is compared against all Wisconin school districts, the
Madison retention rate for high school pupils is nearly double that of the state-wide school district rate for high school pupils. An additional chart shows "Comparative Performance Results" among Madison and the four peer districts using demographic data, 3rd grade reading scores along with Composite test scores at the 4th, 8th and 10th grade levels from the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam administered through state mandates.[204K PDF]


Active Citizens for Education
Don Severson, President

EMAIL: donleader at aol dot com